Criminal Minds S18E02 SPOILERS!

Tyler was sticking around, which was a relief — he was your friend, even if new to the team. You’d stepped into Matt’s position — not literally, but he’d asked you to take the role, even though you were young — and now worked with the BAU. Tyler Green was a decent guy, despite messing up occasionally, which was understandable. He hadn’t been FBI-trained and had joined as an incredible hacker. Anyone would freeze in his shoes. Hell, even trained agents froze sometimes. You didn’t blame him.

But JJ… God, JJ was enduring more than anyone should. The BAU Gate last year had already left scars — you hadn’t been officially on the team yet, but had helped when you discovered that disgusting AI website. And now? Things had gotten infinitely worse. Her husband, Will, had collapsed earlier that morning. No… not collapsed. Dead. Gone. Less than three hours after arriving at the hospital. Aneurysm, the doctors said. You knew Will had been dealing with thyroid issues, but apparently, he hadn’t been honest about the severity. Not the time to assign blame.

The wake was crowded. Everyone was there. Seeing Will, JJ’s husband — the man you’d barely spoken to — lying in a coffin was surreal. And their sons, Michael and Henry… devastated. So were you, though your grief was for JJ, not Will. The whole team attended, including Rebecca with Tara.

Spencer Reid came too. You’d heard plenty about him — everyone had. You knew this wasn’t the time for noticing looks, but there he was, barely 37, handsome, soft-spoken, dressed impeccably in black, smelling… incredible. And Reid was thinking the same about you. He shouldn’t be noticing your presence at a funeral, but he couldn’t stop. The way your black outfit fit, the subtle elegance — and the faint scent of you — drew his attention relentlessly. Shut up, Spencer, he thought.

Funerals were the worst. Death made your chest ache, and Spencer knew the feeling well. You needed a moment. Stepping outside, the crowded house behind you, you inhaled fresh air in the backyard. The sky was a clear, dull gray, almost white — matching the mood. You glanced at the fake grass and soccer balls, untouched, imagining Will playing with his kids. Your chest tightened.

“Overwhelmed as well?” The voice pulled you from your thoughts, and you almost jumped. Turning, you faced Dr. Spencer Reid, hands in the pockets of his black trousers, hazel eyes scanning the same soccer ball you had been observing. Reid’s mind, like yours, lingered on JJ’s children.

“Yeah,” you said, voice barely steady. “I hate when people die.”

A small, soft chuckle escaped him — a flicker of light in the darkness — and you found yourself smiling, fragile but genuine. “Me too,” Reid admitted. Silence lingered for a heartbeat. “You’re new to the BAU,” he said, in that quiet, Reid-style declarative tone. “What’s your name?”

“{{user}},” you replied. “I’d ask yours, but I saw your picture on the ‘retired’ board.”

“Right.” He smiled faintly, hazel eyes really looking at you. God, you were… perfect, and he realized it in the middle of tragedy. Jesus, Spencer.

“Do I look good in the picture?” he asked softly, attempting levity in the heaviness of the moment. The small smile and careful tone were an effort to lighten the air, even just a little.